Tackling dummy



T. P. SMITH TACKLING DUMMY Apr! 9, 1929.

' Filed Dec. 14, 1927 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

TUCKER P. SMITH, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

TACKLING DUMMY.

Application filed December 14, 1927. Serial No. 239,942..

This invention relates to improvements in tackling dummies such as are used in footballtackling practice. Y 7

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved dummy or like article which will retain its shape even through prolonged,,severe-use and which has its interior .so constructed as to prevent the compacting and bunching of the filling material which frequently occurs with dummies as heretofore constructed. This compacting of the material, usually at the lower end of the dummy, results in a hard unyielding body which not infrequently is the cause of injuries to the players.

' Another object is to provide a dtunmy which may be supported from its base by a central rope or the like, the rope and dummy preferably being relatively rotatable on a vertical axis whereby the unwinding of the rope is avoided and the stresses imposed on the rope will be evenly distributed to all the strands thereof.

Otherobjects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become apparent from a consideration of the followingspecification and accompany ing drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 illustrates a dummy constructed in accordance with the present invention and supported in operative position by conventional means.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the 1 filler members without its casing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged diametrical sectional view of a filler member showing its casing and a portion of the supporting rope.

Fig. 4 is a broken view showing a number of filler members arranged in the casing or jacket which is cut away on a vertical diametrical plane for the purpose of clearness.

In the drawings the dummy is indicated generally by the numeral 10, and is shown in Figure 1 supported by a central member 11 7 which preferably is a flexible rope or the like of suitable size. The member 11 has a loop 12 at itsupper end to which is secured a second rope 18 which passes over pulleys 14, 14 secured to a suporting frame 15. The opposite end of the rope 13 is secured to a counter weight 16 in accordance with the usual practice.

The dummy 10, instead of being a bag stuffed with a material which, after a short period of use becomes compacted in the lower end thereof, isbuilt up of a number of indietral pendent sections or filler members,each being indicated generally by the numeral 17. Each member 17 comprises an interior disc-shaped body 18 of fibrous substance such as felt, or other suitable material, provided with a cenopening therethrough, indicated at 19. In actualpractice these members 18 are approximately two inches thick and may consistof one or more layers of material. Each filler member 18 is incased in a fabric covering 20 which may beformed of two portions joined at the peripheral seam 21. The casing 20 has openings 22, 22 in alinement with the opening 19 of the fillers 18, said openings 22 being provided with grommets 23', 23 or other reinforcements to prevent fraying of the fabric.

In forming the dummy 10, a number of filler members 17 are arranged in stacked relation Within an outer jacket 24 which is closed at the top and bottom and is provided with an opening or slit down one side, as indicated at 25, through which opening the filler members can be inserted. Eyelets 26 are provided along both-sides of the slit for the employment of lacing in closing the opening and whereby ready access is afforded to the interior of the jacket for removing, replacing or adjusting the filler members. 7

An opening 27 is provided in the top por tion of the jacket 24 in registration with the openings 19 of the filler members 17, thus forming a central longitudinal passage for the supporting rope 11 which, at its lower end preferably passes into, and issuitably secured to a metal terminal 28 having a tapered or other appropriately shaped head 29, said head being adapted for seating in a correspondingly shaped socket which is concentric with a central opening in a base plate 30.

The plate 30 may be of metal and is of sufficient diameter to carry the weight of the dummy, and the stresses imposed thereon, without causing the distortion of the lower end thereof.

The head 29 can rotate in the socket of the plate 30, as will be seen, thereby avoiding undue twisting or unwinding of the strands of the rope, and thus insuring that the entire rope will bear the added weight and stresses imposed by the tackler and not only one or two strands thereof.

The fabric of which the coverings 20 and jacket 24 are made may be canvas or other durable material, fabric, or otherwise. A grommet 31 may be employed for reinforcing;

i is I be understoodthat this has been for the puri the fabric-at the opening 27 in the top of the jacket, as shown.

" From the above description it will be seen that a flexible dummy has been provided.

which can bendsuliiciently when tackled by v the user, and that due to the unitary construction of the several 'filler members, there will be little or no compacting. or bunching of the filling material at the lower end of the. jacket which would render the dummy so unyielding as to be likely to 'cause injuries to the'users.

V I Although 'Ih'ave shownand described theinvention as being embodied in a tackling "dummy for use byfoot ball players, it will pose of illustration only, as the invention is susceptible of use in other relations, such as .for'pun'ching bags of the type used byprize fighters for instance, and I do not wish to be restricted to the modification herein shown we and described except as limitations thereto appear in the appended claims.

WVh'atIc lai-m is: v 1. An athletic device comprising a plurality of stacked filler members, a flexible v. casinginclosin'g the same, said members and v 1 casing having openings: therein forming a longitudinal passage for thereception of a supporting member, and a supporting mem- :1 her therein. 7

ELA-n athletic device comprising a plurality of stacked filler members, a flexible inclo'sing the same, said members and easing having openings therein forming a longitudinal passage for the reception of a snpportlng member, a supporting member therein, and a base plate at the lower end of said casing having rotatable engagement 'Wllll'l'SiLld supporting member.

3. An -ath-letic device comprising plurality of stacked'filler members, a flexible cas ng -1 nclos1ng' the same, said members and easing having openlngs-therein'forming a passage for the reception of a supporting member, a supporting member therein, a terml-nal secured to the lower end of said supporting member, and an apertured supporting plate ad acent the base ofsaidcasing rotatably engaging said terminal.

4. In an 'athl'etic device, a filler member.

comprising a disc-like fibrous member having a central opening, a flexible casing for said member having openings attop'and bottom registering with the opening in said member to form a continuous passage therethrough,

"and means for reinforcing-the material of said casing at the openings therein,

5. An athletic-device comprising a jacket having an opening at one side thereof, lacing means 'thereTQ -and filler members therein, each of said" filler members having a disc- .like; fibrous interior, and a jacket inclosing 'the same. 7 1 a I 6. An athletic device comprising a jacket having an opening at one sidethereof, lacing means therefor, and filler members therein,

each 01 said filler'me'mbers having a disc-like fibrous interior and a casing therefor, said members being arranged in stacked relation within said jacket and being supported from adjacent the bottom of the latter. I

"- 7 An athletic "device comprising an outer casing, a plurality of innerfiller membersarranged in stacked relation in said casing, a

base plate, and a flexible support extending cent-rally'into said casingand through said filler members for supporting the same entirely from adj acentthe lower end of the casing,"rsaid support beingsecured to said plate.

8. An athletic, device comprising a casing, a plurality of independent stacked filler members therein, aflexible supporting member extending into said casing'andthrough said members, and means ad acent the lower end or" said casing adapted to be secured to said supporting member whereby saidcaslng and tiller members are supported entirely by the same. 1

V 9. An athletic devicecomprising a body formed of a plurality of individually encased filler members and a jacket for. retain ing the same in stacked relation, a. supporting TUCKER r. sMrrn. 

